The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1887-10-21
The EgiS & Intelligencer
Bel Air, Md, October 81, 1887.
DARLINGTON.

This place has improved in many respects since
/ last visited II, Il little over ten years ago. A
number of new houses have been built, which
are q credit to the place, and several more are
ia course of erection The Town Hall is a very
pretty building, and has been needed for years /;
Tor while there are churches and school houses,
these are almost exclusively used for the pur-
poses for which they were built, to the exclusion,
at times, of non-sectarian meetings and public
gatherings generally.
The pavements and streets or roads arc in my
opinion. great discredit to the place. A very lit
tie money, well-spent, would make fair board
pavement, which II properly looked after, would
last long time For the Streets crushed stone
would no doubt be the best and cheapest in the
long run. for smooth and lasting road bed
The pleasure OF driving over such road would
partly compensate the travelling public for the
outlay, while the saving iu wagons and black
smith bills, would in ten years more than pay
Tor all expenditures in making tirst-class high
ways.
The very greatest drawback to Darlington and
vicinity 10 the want OF railroad. In my mind
have peoped all these beautiful hills with a city.
The deft hand OF the mechanic, the skill of
modern engineering, the stamp, as it were, of the
Nineteenth century placed upon the whole
vicinity, what beautiful city IL would be From
high observatory on one of the lofttest hills,
what an expanse of country would be brought 10
view! And what healthy city 1t would be !!
Such perfect drainage, such fiue air, such clear,
sparkling water. Standing on ono Of the highest
hills, | thought this certainly one OF the finest
views ever seen. The leaves. touched by autumn's
WONDERFUL wand, were beautiful and enchanting.
Here cluster OF trees of one color, and there on
another hill top, another cluster OF another
color, and so on for miles and mllCs-rhe rolling
hills aud fertile valleys presenting scene Ike
the unduating waves OF the sea.
In driving southwark, passing the handsome
=. L. Church aud the comfortable residence Of
Mr.. David f.. Thomas, one is struck with sort
OF wonder as though by magic he were trans
ported into nm English hamlet This is the new
handsome aud Eugiish-Iike residence OF SIR:
ID. q. Wharton Smith. The situation is high and
commanding, and the house IS apparently
model of convenience and comfort. Two pecu-
liary English gatr-pOsts of rather rustic pattern
n IN
u comfortable lodge for the gardener is built
The house and all the buildings indicate the
home of a refined gentleman.
Passing down the road leading to the Ford, q
beautiful flower aud vegetable garden grecis the
eve. This is Mr. Smiths garden, which is
In charge of Mr.. Anthony FELTON,, one of the best
gardeners from the DeighOorhOOd of Philade-
phia. Mr.. FELTON, being an old personal friend,
called to see him and though his courtesy was
shown through this inviting garden. Besides
taking the premiums on several classes of vegeta-
bles anu flowers at the Hartford fair, last year,
Mr.. FELTON, has even astOnished some of the best
gardeners in the vicinity OF Philadelphia, with
some of the products of his garden. This was
particularly SO with cantaloupes, Il few OF which
he shipped north to show what Hartford soil will
produce. Said Mr.. Felton,, Two years ago
the three acres in this garden were part OLA
field" One could scarcely believe that in so short
a time such wonderful transformation could be
A drive along Deer Creek well repays any one
The stock catlle quietly grazing on either side
of the highway, the shocks of standing corn, and
the fields of fresh young wheat, together with
the DlushlnK poison vine, the tWlhiuS IVY anu
crimson sumac all go to make up u pleasing and
inviting scene, and bring to the heart thoughts
of the goodness and mercy of God. aud His great
excellency in all the earth.
From Darlington proper, away out over the
hills, the snowy slabs of the new Cemetery are
seen. Tine spot must be very pretty from what
could judge from distance.
Yes. this land, as fair and beautiful as it Is, is
a land of graves. But do not these beautiful
scenes of earth make us think Of that fair land
beyond the grave, that land where the atmOs-
phere is ever refreshing and satisfying, where
there is no consumptivc cough, no malarial
diseases no sickness, no death aud no open
graves To that fair land trust we shall be all
admitted when life is done, and when time with
us shall be no more OsCEoLA.